XVIII 
EL BO GO I TO MOMBASA 
419 
occupied a similar position in reference to that of the east 
coast and the western Senegalensis or “ korrigum.” 
I am convinced that our good friends of the Museum 
need very much more extensive series of specimens to enable 
them to judge of the limits and relations of species. Single 
individuals are not much to go upon, they differ among them¬ 
selves to a certain extent in the same locality (I am speaking 
now not of any particular species), and age is a factor that 
has to be taken into account, immature specimens being often 
very misleading. If I may venture to say so (though it is 
not without fear and trembling that I hazard any suggestion), 
I think it would be an immense enhancement of the instruct¬ 
iveness of our national collection if more specimens of the 
most interesting varieties of allied species were exhibited in 
the public galleries. It is true that the authorities are most 
courteous and obliging in showing any particular specimens 
to an inquirer; but, when they are stowed away in private 
rooms, it prevents any group being examined as a whole, by 
any one who wishes to study it at leisure without giving 
trouble. The idea that only representative specimens should 
be exhibited in the cases is, I think, a mistake ; the display 
should, I maintain, be made as comprehensive as possible, 
otherwise the collection can only be, generally speaking, for 
the benefit of a few savants. 
A few of the conclusions which my experience of the 
elephant of Equatorial Africa has led me to may be worth 
recording. First, as to size. I believe that in the regions 
where I have been hunting he attains his greatest dimensions, 
both as to bodily bulk and weight of ivory. That renowned 
South African hunter and most careful observer, Mr. F. C. 
Selous, puts the average height of full-grown bulls at from 
ten feet to ten feet six inches. I will give the measurements 
of some I have measured myself, which, while among the 
largest I have killed, were not, as far as I know, in any sense 
exceptional, among fully matured bull elephants of these 
